Thinking global and acting local sees our musical traditions survive and thrive

Joining Comhaltas and realising the people you're hefting chairs around the local halls with are trad superstars who have to be on the 'Late Late' that night is like seeing Taylor Swift running the U12 county final WhatsApp group, writes Darragh McManus

Lily O’Connor, of Ballygriffey Co Clare, performing at Rochestown Hotel, Cork: Comhaltas now has 400+ branches around the world, promoting and preserving our music, dancing and language.
Picture: Darragh Kane

“Think global, act local”: the phrase was coined in the 1970s, gained new currency in the '90s and remains relevant today. Think global — in other words, big picture, broad view, the important things — and act on an individual and community level.

Its original authors meant it environmentally, but it can apply to all sorts of things. Irish arts and culture, for instance.